A new leadership team with an ambitious agenda!
With the announcement of a new President and Director General, EURATEX prepares itself to promote and defend the European apparel and textile industry in the years to come.
EURATEX, or the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, represents the interests of the European textile and clothing industry at the level of the EU institutions. EURATEX member federations represent in the EU some 171,000 companies with a turnover of €178 billion, employing 1.7 million workers.
Meet Alberto Paccanelli (IT)! He is the newly appointed EURATEX President, who has a clear vision about the future of the organisation which is working together with EU institutions, European and international stakeholders.
Notably, EURATEX will continue to focus on its key pillars – an ambitious industrial policy, effective research, innovation and skills development, free and fair trade and sustainability.
With international experience in the textile industry and management consulting, Alberto Paccanelli, since 2007, is the CEO and shareholder of the Martinelli Ginetto Group in Bergamo, Italy, specialised in high-end home textile products.
For many years, he has been actively involved in representing the industry at both European and national level, as President (2011-2014) and Vice President Treasurer (2014-2019) of EURATEX, as member of the Steering Committee of Sistema Moda Italia, and as President of the Italian Technology Platform for Textile and Apparel.
Then there’s Dirk Vantyghem (BE), who has been appointed as the new Director General of EURATEX. He will run the Brussels office of EURATEX.
With over 20 years of experience, Vantyghem has been representing European businesses, as a Director at the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES) in Brussels. With an economic background (College of Europe), his expertise relates to international trade, SME development, EU programmes and economic diplomacy.
“I am committed to grow EURATEX into an essential interlocutor for EU policy makers, and to support our membership in promoting a competitive industry. With a new European leadership coming into power, it is the right time to prepare ourselves for an ambitious partnership with the EU,” said Dirk Vantyghem.
Endorsing the same thoughts, EURATEX President Alberto Paccanelli (IT) said “I commit to serving EURATEX at my best. Unity and collaboration between all member organisations will be essential to support EURATEX in defending the interests of our industry.”
